Sample taking apparatus



Dec. 26, 1933.. G. A. HuMAsoN SAMPLE TAKING APPARATUS Filed June 9, 1932me/nto@ f/w fag,

Patented Dec. 1933 UNITED AsrlA'las PATENT OFFICEl 1,940,866 SAMPLETAKING APPARATUS l Granville A. Humason, Houston, Tex., assignor to ReedRoller Bit Company, Houston, Tex., a

corporation of Texas This invention/relates to a sample takingapparatus. i

An object of the invention is to provide, in a sample taking apparatus,a sample receiving barrel with novel means for severing the core orsample and for closing the lower end ofthe barrel to retain the sampletherein.

Another object is to provide, in an apparatus of the character describednovel means for actuating the core barrel to eiect the closing of thelower end thereof.

A further object is to provide novel means for anchoring the core barrelin position to receive the core or sample, said anchoring means beingreleasable to permit the withdrawal of the core barrel -through thedrill stem, without withdrawing the stem and drill attached thereto.

The invention also embodies novel means for eiecting such withdrawal ofthe core barrel.

With the above and other objects in view the invention has particularrelation to certain novel features of construction, operation andAarrangement of parts, an example of which is given in this specificationand illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figures 1 and 2 show vertical sectional views of the upper and lowerends, respectively, of the apparatus showing the sample therein and theparts in readiness to sever the sample and close the lower end of thecore barrel.

Figure 3 shows a cross'sectional view 4taken on the line 3-3 of Figure1.

f Figure 4 shows a cross sectional view taken on the line 4-4of Figure2, and z l Figure 5 shows a fragmentary sectional view of ,the lower endof the barrel, showing the plug closing the lower end of the barrel.

` In the drawing the numeral 1 designates a drill of any selected designhaving the sample receivlng inlet 2 therein which is reduced forming thedownwardly converging seat 3 on which the lower of the tubular corebarrel 4 rests.` This core barrel may be formed if desired, ofcomplemental longitudinal sections as illustrated in Figure 4 so thatwhen the core barrel is withdrawn it may be readily separated for accessto the core or sample. The drill may have the water passageways 5, 5 onthe outside of the core barrel through which a ilushing fluid may besupplied to the' drill.

- The numeral 6 designates a tubular drill stem whose lower endisprovided with a nipple 7 to which thedrillis attached and attached tothe upper end of this nipple there is a special coupling 8. Attached tothe upper end of the coupling 8 55 there is a long tubular section 9whose upper end is connected to the nipple 10 which in turn is attachedto the lower end of the drill stem proper by means of the coupling 11. A

, The upper end of the coupling `8 is inwardly thickened and the upperendof the core barrel 4 no is fitted snugly within said coupling. Theupper end of said core barrel is closed by a sectional head 12 havingthe upwardly opening cup ring 13 'clamped between the sections of saidhead and tted closely within said coupling 8. Around the head 12, andseated against the upper end of the coupling 8 there isa ring 14 whichis secured4 in place by a frangible pin 15.

The'core barrel has the upper and lower ports 16, 16 and `17, 17 whichalign with the corresponding annular channels 18, 19 around the insidewall of the coupling 8 and leading from these channels through the wallof the coupling 8 are the conduits 20 which terminate in the outletports 21, 22 leading outwardly through the wall of said coupling 8.Above saiclI ports'21, 22', the conduits 20 lhave the valve seats 23, 23closed by the downwardly opening valves 24, 24 which are seated on andnormally held closed by the coil springs 25, 25.

A stem 26 extends upwardly from the head 12 and its upper end isprovided with the annular downwardly flared shoulder 27.

The upper end of the tubular section 9 is inwardly thickened and fittedwithin said inwardly thickened portion are the sectional slips 28 whichhave the external upwardly pitched ratchet teeth 29 engageable with thewall of the section 9. The sections of these slips are held in assembledrelation by means of a surrounding band 30 which isv counter sunk intoan external groove 31, around saidjslips. The lower ends` of the slips28 have the inside upwardly converging shoulders 32 engageable with theopposing shoulder 27. The upper end of the stem 26 above 'the shoulder27 is upwardly tapered and the inner sides of slips`28 arecorrespondingly tapered upwardly, said upwardly tapering portions of theslips terminating in the downwardly converging internal shoulders 33.There is a stem 34 which is tted between and extends above the upper endof the slips 28 and whose lower end has an enlarged head 35 providedwith the external upwardly flared shoulder 36 engageable with the insideshoulders 33 of said slips.

The inwardly thickened portion of the tubular section 9 has the verticalchannels 37 therej through andthe inwardly thickened portion of thecoupling 8 has the vertical channels 38 therethrough, through which adrilling fluid may be 110 conducted from the stem 6 down throughpassageways 5 to the drill 1.

The lower end of the core barrel has the downwardly widened slots 39, 39cut therethrough and spaced apart therearound forming a cage which hasthe continuous annular ring 40 therearound, tapered to conform to thetaper of, and to seat upon the seat 3 and moulded within this cage andinto said slots 39 there is an inside sleeve 41 formed of rubber orother suitable resilient material. y

In the core barrel there is a plug 42 having the annular upwardlyopening cup ring 43 therearound to t closely within the core barrel.

When it is desired to take a core the apparatus as hereinabove describedmay be assembled and the let down into the bore, with the plug 42 inthe,

lower end of the core barrel and closing the inlet 2 against the inletof drilling fluid into the core barrel and the plug may be secured inplace by a frangible pin 44. The slips 28 will be held expanded by theco-acting tapering inner faces of said slips and the external taperingfaces on the upper end of the stem 26 and will thus be held inengagement with the inner wall of the section 9 to anchor the corebarrel in place. As drilling proceeds and as acore is formed it willenter the core receiving inlet 2 and gradually force the plug 42upwardly, forcing the contents of the barrel 4 above said plug outthrough the conduits 20 past the valves 24 and then out through theports 21, 22.

In some cases the drill Will be employed in ordinary drilling when acore or sample is not Idesired and in such case the core barrel will notbe used until a stratum has been reached which is to be tested. In suchcase when a sample is desired the drill should be lifted off of thebottom and the drill stem and drill washed out. The core barrel 4 withthe slip assembly attached thereto may be then dropped through the drillstem 6 and will finally land on the seat 3 and the barrel will beanchored in position by the slips 28 as hereinabove explained anddrilling may be proceeded with, the core being formed displacing theplug 42 and entering the core barrel 4 as previously explained.

The stem 24 is formed ofy sections, the upper section thereof having theannular external shoulder 45.

When it is desired to secure the sample in the barrel 4 and to retainthe same therein the barrel 4 is actuated downwardly and the downwardlytapering seat 3 will contract the cage into which the lower end of thebarrel is formed, breaking the ring 40 and finally closing the lower endof said barrel, thus severing the sample and forming means for retainingthe sample in the core barrel.

The resilient sleeve 41, when contracted, will form a seal at the lowerend of the barrel 4 to retain the fluid of the entrapped sample'.y

Any suitable means may be employed I'for actuating said barrel to close`the lower end thereof and for withdrawing the barrel. A special type ofovershot shing tool has 'been provided for this purpose andwill now bedescribedJ This shing tool embodies a slip socket 46 having thedownwardly tapering inside seat 47cm which are seated the downwardlytapering slips 48, adapted to engage over the upper end of the uppersection of the stem 34 and there is a coil spring 49 in the slip socketwhich presses downwardly against said slips 48 to hold them contractedinwardly against said stem to grip the same. The slip socket 46, isattached to the lower end of the shank 50 whose upper end carries a cage51 having the annular internal shoulder 52. Within this cage there isthe impact member 53 having the external annular shoulder 54 therearoundarranged to interengage with the shoulder 52, said impact member havinga limited longitudinal movement in said cage. To the upper' end of saidimpact member a suitable cable 55 may be connected in any appropriatemanner. y

The coupling member 1l has its midportion thickened inwardly and theshank 50 has an upwardly opening cup ring 56 therearound which tsclosely within said thickened portion of the coupling 11.

When it is desired to withdraw the sample the nshing tool, as abovedescribed, may be lowered through the stem 6 by the cable 55 and theslip socket 46'will readily pass over the upper end of the stem 34, thelower end of said'slip socket being ared to form a guide 57 to guide theslip socket over said stem. The lower end of the slip socket 46 willland on the shoulder 45`with the cup ring 56 located'within the inwardlythickened portion of the coupling 11 and thereupon pump pressure may beapplied through the stem 6 to force the core barrel downwardly and atthe same time the impact member. 53 may be elevated and dropped strikingagainst the upper end of the shank 50 to force the same downwardly andthe core barrel 4 will thereby be actuated downwardly and its lower endcollapsed as hereinabove explained to sever the core or sample and tocompletely close the lower end of the -core barrel. When the lower endof the core barrel has been Athus collapsed the cup ring 56 will havemoved on down past the thickened portion of the coupling 11 permittingthe drilling fluid to pass freely on down through the drill stem and outthrough the passageways 5 and thus permitting the pump to speed upindicating to the operator that the sample has been trapped in the corebarrel. An upward pull' may now be exerted on the cable 55, elevatingthe shing tool, and the slips 48 will engage the upper end of the stem34 lifting the shoulder 36 ofsaid stem into engagement with the opposingshoulders 33 of the slips 28 and said last mentioned slips will be thuscontracted inwardly and pulled upwardly releasing the wall of thetubular section 9 and thereupon the shoulders 32 of the slips 28 willengage underneath the shoulder 27 of the stem 26 and the core barrel 4with the sample entrapped therein may be then readily withdrawn from thedrill stem to the ground surface for inspection.

The drawing and description disclose what is now considered to be apreferred form of the invention by way of illustration only, while thebroad principle of the invention will be dened by the appended claims. f

What I claim is:

1. A core taking apparatus comprising a tubular stem, a drill at thelower end thereof having an inlet for a core; a core barrel in said stemand aligned with said inlet; holding means to releasably hold said corebarrel; a collapsible core catcher associated with said barrel; means tonormally prevent said core barrel from collapsing said core catcher;said stem, drill and barrel being constructed to provide a iiuid channelto direct to said drill uid pumped downwardly through said stem; and anovershot movable downwardly in said stem to engage said core barthefluid in said stem may be utilized to cause said barrel to collapse saidcatcher; said overshot being constructed to open said channel when saidcore catcher is collapsed; said core barrel being removable through saidstem by saidv overshot; said overshot serving, when removed upwardly, torelease said holding means.

2. A core taking apparatus comprising a tubular stem, a drill at thelower end thereof having an inlet for a core; a core barrel in said stemand aligned with said inlet; holding means to releasably hold said corebarrel; a collapsible core sisv catcher associated with said barrel;means to normally prevent said core barrel from collapsing said corecatcher; said stem, drill and barrel being constructed to provide ailuid channel to direct to said drill fluid pumped downwardly throughsaid stem; and an overshot movable downwardly in said stem to engagesaid core barrel and close said channel so that the pressure of the uidin said stem may be utilized to cause said barrel to collapse/saidcatcher; said overshot being constructed to open said channel when saidcore catcher is collapsed; said core barrel being removable through saidstem by said overshot; said overshot serving, when removed upwardly, torelease said holding means; said core barrel having therein an outletopening having a relief valve; said opening being open before said corecatcher is collapsed and closed when said core catcher is collapsed.

3. A core taking apparatus comprising a tubular stein, a drill at thelower end thereof having an inlet for a core; a core barrel in said stemand aligned with said inlet; holding means to releasablyhold said corebarrel; a collapsible core catcher associated with said barrel; means tonormally preventsaid core barrel from collapsing said core catcher; saidstem, drill and barrel bei ing constructed' to provide a iluidchannel trect to said drill fluid pumped downwardly through said stem; and anovershot movable downwardly in said stem to engage said core barrel andclose said channel so that the pressure of the uid in said stem may beutilized to cause said barrel to collapse said catcher; said core barrelbeingremovable through said stem by said overshot; said overshotserving, when removed upwardly, to release said holding means.

4. In a core taking apparatus a core barrel having a plurality ofannular, spaced, inwardly collapsible fingers and rubber between andmouldedon said fingers and means to collapse said fingers.

`GRANVllLLE A. HUMASON.

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